Terrence Williams, ex-Louisville basketball star, sentenced to 10 years in prison for health care fraud

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Louisville’s Terrence Williams flew in to dunk over Morehead’s Terrance Hill during the second half of play in the Billy Minardi Classic at Freedom Hall. Nov 22, 2008.

Former Louisville men’s basketball player Terrence Williams, a first-round NBA draft pick in 2009, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after leading a multimillion-dollar scam against the professional league’s health plan.

Williams had pleaded guilty last August to federal charges of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who said Williams used his people skills to entice others to aid in defunding the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan of more than $5 million after he “frittered away” substantial earnings from his professional career.

In addition to his 10-year prison sentence, Williams was also ordered to forfeit more than $650,000 and to pay $2.5 million in restitution for ripping off the NBA between 2017 and 2021 with the help of a dentist in California and doctors in California and Washington state.

Prosecutors said fraudulent invoices created by the medical professionals were processed by other people whom Williams recruited to defraud the plan, which provides health benefits to eligible active and former NBA players and their families. Profits were generated by claims for fictitious medical and dental expenses.

“You should have had enough money to be set for life,” Caproni told him, “but you don’t.”

Williams, a three-time All-Big East forward who averaged 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds across 140 games at Louisville, was picked No. 11 in the 2009 NBA Draft by the then-New Jersey Nets. His time in the NBA ended in 2013 and also included stints with the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.

New Jersey Nets guard Terrence Williams, left, drives past Orlando Magic guard Vince Carter during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 5, 2010.

Williams and 17 other former NBA players were charged in an October 2021 indictment in connection to the case. So far, 13 have pleaded…

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Author : The Courier Journal

Publish date : 2023-08-03 23:04:35

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